Electrical Connection Module and Electrical Connection Assembly

Abstract

An electrical connection module includes an electrical connection member having a receiving cavity and a contact spring arranged therein. The electrical connection member has an outer peripheral wall surrounding the receiving cavity, and a top wall and a bottom opening opposite to the top wall in an axial direction of the receiving cavity. The contact spring is annular in shape and is adapted to be fit as a ring onto a conductive post of a connected object inserted from the bottom opening. The contact spring is adapted to undergo elastic deformation along a radial direction of the receiving cavity to establish radial electrical contact with the inserted conductive post.

1 . An electrical connection module, comprising:
 an electrical connection member defining a receiving cavity, including:
 an outer peripheral wall surrounding the receiving cavity; 
 a top wall; and 
 a bottom opening opposite the top wall in an axial direction of the receiving cavity; and 
   an annular contact spring arranged in the receiving cavity and adapted to receive a conductive post of a connected object insert through the bottom opening, the contact spring adapted to undergo elastic deformation along a radial direction of the receiving cavity and establish radial electrical contact with the inserted conductive post, so that the electrical connection member is electrically connected to the connected object via the contact spring.   
     
     
         2 . The electrical connection module according to  claim 1 , wherein a top through hole is formed in the top wall of the receiving cavity and adapted to permit the conductive post to pass therethrough. 
     
     
         3 . The electrical connection module according to  claim 1 , further comprising an annular limiting element arranged in the receiving cavity and limiting movement of the contact spring in the axial direction of the receiving cavity. 
     
     
         4 . The electrical connection module according to  claim 3 , wherein:
 the limiting element has a peripheral wall portion, a bottom wall, and a top opening, a bottom through-hole is formed in the bottom wall of the limiting element and adapted to receive the conductive post therethrough;   the bottom wall of the limiting element and the top wall of the receiving cavity are opposite in the axial direction of the receiving cavity and respectively abut upper and lower sides of the contact spring limiting movement of the contact spring in the axial direction.   
     
     
         5 . The electrical connection module according to  claim 4 , wherein an outer peripheral surface of the peripheral wall portion of the limiting element is interference fit with an inner peripheral surface of the outer peripheral wall of the receiving cavity to fix the limiting element in the receiving cavity. 
     
     
         6 . The electrical connection module according to  claim 5 , wherein prior to insertion of the conductive post into the contact spring, a predetermined gap is defined between the contact spring and the peripheral wall portion of the limiting element to allow the contact spring to float radially in the receiving cavity. 
     
     
         7 . The electrical connection module according to  claim 6 , the receiving cavity is sized such that, after the conductive post is inserted into the contact spring, the contact spring is adapted to be expanded by the conductive post in the radial direction of the receiving cavity and comes into contact with the peripheral wall portion of the limiting element. 
     
     
         8 . The electrical connection module according to  claim 4 , wherein the top surface of the peripheral wall portion of the limiting element is pressed against the inner side of the top wall of the receiving cavity, and the bottom wall of the limiting element is adapted to be pressed against the top surface of the connected object to be able to position the limiting element in the axial direction of the receiving cavity. 
     
     
         9 . The electrical connection module according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the electrical connection member has a flat connection portion, the outer peripheral wall of the receiving cavity protrudes from the top surface of the flat connection portion; and   the bottom surface of the flat connection portion is adapted to rest against the top surface of the connected object, and the bottom opening of the receiving cavity is located on the bottom surface of the flat connection portion.   
     
     
         10 . The electrical connection module according to  claim 1 , further comprising a nut adapted to threadably engage with the conductive post passing through the top wall of the receiving cavity to fasten the electrical connection module to the top surface of the connected object. 
     
     
         11 . The electrical connection module according to  claim 1 , wherein the contact spring comprises:
 a spiral spring which is coiled into a ring shape; and   a C-shaped elastic ring installed in the spiral spring, the spiral spring is adapted to make electrical contact with the conductive post, and the C-shaped elastic ring is adapted to provide auxiliary contact force to the spiral spring to improve the electrical contact force between the spiral spring and the conductive post.   
     
     
         12 . The electrical connection module according to  claim 1 , wherein a single receiving cavity is formed in the electrical connection member, and the electrical connection module adapted to electrically connect with a conductive post on a single connected object. 
     
     
         13 . The electrical connection module according to  claim 1 , wherein multiple receiving cavities are formed in the electrical connection member, and the electrical connection module comprises multiple contact springs respectively arranged in the multiple receiving cavities, for electrically connecting with conductive posts on multiple connected objects to electrically interconnect the conductive posts on the multiple connected objects. 
     
     
         14 . The electrical connection module according to  claim 13 , wherein the electrical connection module further comprises multiple limiting elements respectively arranged in the multiple receiving cavities, for respectively preventing the multiple contact springs from being moved in the axial direction of the receiving cavity. 
     
     
         15 . An electrical connection assembly, comprising:
 a connected object having a conductive post for electrical connection; and   an electrical connection module, comprising:
 an electrical connection member defining a receiving cavity, including:
 an outer peripheral wall surrounding the receiving cavity; 
 a top wall; and 
 a bottom opening opposite the top wall in an axial direction of the receiving cavity; and 
 
 an annular contact spring arranged in the receiving cavity and receiving the conductive post of the connected object insert through the bottom opening, the contact spring elastically deforming along a radial direction of the receiving cavity and establishing radial electrical contact with the inserted conductive post, so that the electrical connection member is electrically connected to the connected object via the contact spring. 
   
     
     
         16 . The electrical connection assembly according to  claim 15 , wherein:
 the connected object has a top surface, and the conductive post extends upward from the top surface of the connected object by a predetermined height and has a thread formed on the end of the conductive post; and   the conductive post passes through the top through-hole in the top wall of the receiving cavity and is threaded with a nut to fasten the electrical connection module to the top surface of the connected object.   
     
     
         17 . The electrical connection assembly according to  claim 15 , wherein the electrical connection member is a first bus bar, the connected object is a second bus bar, and the first bus bar is electrically connected to the second bus bar via the contact spring. 
     
     
         18 . The electrical connection assembly according to  claim 15 , wherein the electrical connection member is a bus bar, and the connected object is an electrical device, the bus bar is electrically connected to the electrical device via the contact spring. 
     
     
         19 . The electrical connection assembly according to  claim 15 , wherein the electrical connection member is a bus bar, the connected object is a rechargeable battery cell, the conductive post is an electrode end of the battery cell, and the bus bar is electrically connected to the battery cell via the contact spring. 
     
     
         20 . The electrical connection assembly according to  claim 19 , wherein:
 the two ends of the electrical connection member are respectively formed with the receiving cavities, and the electrical connection module comprises two contact springs respectively arranged in the receiving cavities at both ends of the electrical connection member; and   the electrical connection assembly comprises multiple electrical connection modules and multiple battery cells, the electrode ends of adjacent battery cells are respectively inserted into the receiving cavities at both ends of the electrical connection member, so that the electrode ends of adjacent battery cells are electrically interconnected.